The founders of the Wu-Tang Clan were RZA, GZA, and Ol' Dirty Bastard, who had previously formed the group Force of the Imperial Master (later known as All In Together Now after the release of a popular single by that name). The group attracted the attention of some notable figures in the industry, including Biz Markie, but did not manage to secure a record deal. After the crew dissolved, GZA and RZA (then known as Prince Rakeem) embarked on their solo careers with Cold Chillin' Records and Tommy Boy Records respectively, but to little success. Their frustration with the workings of the hip hop music industry would provide the main inspiration to Wu-Tang Clan's revolutionary business plan. According to The Wu-Tang Manual, at the group's inception, RZA promised the members that if he had total control of the Wu-Tang empire, it would conquer the hip hop world within a dynastic cycle, after which he would relinquish his total control.
Wu-Tang Clan was gradually assembled in late 1992 from friends and accomplices from around Staten Island, New York, with RZA as the de-facto leader and the group's main producer. Two of the cousins, GZA (pronounced Jizza) and RZA (pronounced Rizza), created their new Wu-Tang aliases by mimicking the sound that the words "genius" and "razor" would make when scratched on a turntable.
"Wu-Tang" comes from the name of the Taoist holy mountain Wu Dang in northwest Hubei Province in central China; it was also the site of the Ming Dynasty Purple Imperial City built during the reign of the Yongle Emperor in the early 15th century. RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard adopted the name for the group after seeing the kung fu film Shaolin and Wu Tang, which features a school of warriors trained in Wu-Tang style. The group's debut album loosely adopted a Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang theme, dividing the album into Shaolin and Wu-Tang sections and using dialogue excerpts as skits.
The group have also developed various backronyms for the name (as hip hop pioneers like KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane did with their names), including "We Usually Take All the Niggas' Garments," "Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game" and "Wisdom, Universe, Truth, Allah, Nation, and God".
Method Man has also mentioned that the "Wu" is the sound a sword makes when cutting through the air, and "Tang" is the sound it makes against a shield.
The Clan first became known to hip hop fans, and to major record labels, in 1993 (see 1993 in music) following the release of the independent single "Protect Ya Neck", which immediately gave the group a sizeable underground following. Though there was some difficulty in finding a record label that would sign Wu-Tang Clan while still allowing each member to record solo albums with other labels, Loud/RCA finally agreed, releasing their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in late 1993. This album was popular and critically-acclaimed, though it took some time to gain momentum. Though hip hop had long had a gritty texture, the surreal aggression and minimalist production of 36 Chambers nevertheless had a huge impact on the genre, and was to prove massively influential over the next decade. By the beginning of the 21st century, the album had become a regular fixture on "Best Albums of the 90s" lists as well as a frequent choice for "Best Albums of All Time" lists. The success of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) established the group as a creative and influential force in early 1990s hip hop, allowing GZA, RZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa to negotiate solo contracts.
www.wutang-corp.com
One Last Question
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
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You got the Fat Buddha, you got the Drunk Buddha
What's the RZA Buddha?
I'd say he's the Universal Buddha
In Wu-Tang Clan's song One Last Question, the lyrics refer to different manifestations of Buddha. The song poses the question, "What's the RZA Buddha?" The lyrics suggest that the RZA Buddha is a unique entity within the Wu-Tang Clan. The Fat Buddha and the Drunk Buddha are figures known in Buddhism, but the RZA Buddha is described as the Universal Buddha. This implies that the RZA, one of the founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan and a prominent figure in the group's production, possesses a profound and universal spiritual awareness.
The RZA Buddha can be understood as a representation of the RZA's wisdom, insight, and enlightenment. In the context of the song, the RZA Buddha may symbolize the RZA's deep understanding and influence on the group's music and philosophy. As a producer, the RZA has been instrumental in shaping the unique sound and style of the Wu-Tang Clan. His ability to bring together diverse elements and samples, creating a distinct musical universe, can be seen as a manifestation of his spiritual enlightenment.
Overall, these lyrics highlight the RZA's significant role within the Wu-Tang Clan, comparing him to revered Buddhist figures to illustrate his spiritual and artistic prowess.
Line by Line Meaning
One more question, alright?
Before we wrap up, may I ask another question?
You got the Fat Buddha, you got the Drunk Buddha
There are various representations of Buddha, such as the Fat Buddha and the Drunk Buddha.
What's the RZA Buddha?
What is the specific concept or representation of Buddha associated with RZA?
I'd say he's the Universal Buddha
In my opinion, RZA embodies the essence of Buddha that encompasses all ideologies and philosophies.
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Noah Rubin, Robert Diggs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Billy Kimber
Inspectah Deck is one of the most underrated artists of all times.
Raf the thinker
Easily the most technical rapper in the clan... But that's whats beautiful about wu... So many different styles
Ash01
Serious mate. Itās only now when I listen to his verses on wu tang forever I realise just how fire he is. I always rated him but itās only as Iāve matured Iāve realised how much
Tommy Brix
Inspectah and the GZA...
Billy Brind
Inspectah deck is actually my favourite of the group fr
Tony Darkz
Facts
Achw3l
It's so crazy to me that old school hiphop legends sit down doing autocomplete interviews..anyone else feel this way? I love it, don't get me wrong! But for all my life Wu Tang have seemed kinda unreachable, on another level, and yet here they are like normal 50 year old men reminiscing about the past. The internet is a strange and wonderful place
mike richards
The internet is basically just websites. The technology is the incredible part.
Achw3l
@mike richards Well yeah obviously, but the interface, the everyday user experience, is comprised of the internet. That's what I meant
Me Against The World
That's actually very sad that we see them old and reminiscing about the past, but they should invited Ghost, Rae and Meth, cuz they still got the energy, man.